Upanishads

The
Upanishads
are a collection of sacred texts that form one of the foundations of
Hindu religious thought. The most important of these texts, written
between about 600 and 300
B.C.
, deal primarily with the nature of humans and the universe. Originally
passed on orally, these works were eventually collected and written down
by wise men called
rishis.

The texts of the
Upanishads
are said to hold the "hidden meanings" of the religious
practices and ideas presented in the Vedas, an older collection of sacred
texts. Hindu beliefs based on the
Upanishads
are known as the Vedanta, which means that they came after the Vedas.

Rather than focusing on religious
ritual
and practice, the
Upanishads
are philosophical works that explore the nature of reality and meaning of
life. One of their central teachings is the idea that behind the everyday
world is a timeless, unchanging reality or spirit, called brahman, that is
identical to the inner essence, or atman, of the human being. Unity with
brahman and knowledge of the hidden reality behind existence can be
achieved through yoga, which involves philosophical investigation and the
highly disciplined practice of meditation.

ritual
ceremony that follows a set pattern

The
Upanishads
also present the Hindu idea of reincarnation, in which individuals are
reborn again and again as other living creatures. The main purpose of the
Upanishads
is to help individuals gain the mystical knowledge that will release them
from this continuing cycle of death and rebirth.